Goochland Planning Commission elects chair, adopts bylaws and 2025–26 meeting calendar

Dwayne Cosby was elected chair of the Goochland County Planning Commission and Amanda Kowalski was elected vice chair during the commission’s April 17, 2025 meeting; the panel also approved March minutes and adopted updated bylaws and a 2025–26 meeting calendar.

The changes to the commission bylaws, presented by Ms. Spaulding, the county attorney’s designee, reorganize the order of business, rename the secretary role to clerk, add procedures for electronic participation in line with the Code of Virginia, and codify citizen-comment procedures including time-ceding rules and a requirement that materials to be presented electronically be submitted to the clerk by noon the day before the meeting. “The idea is to streamline the meeting process and have things run as smoothly as possible in a logical order,” Ms. Spaulding told the commission.

The commission moved and seconded each of the items and approved them by roll call votes. The March regular-meeting minutes were approved; the commission then voted to adopt the Planning Commission bylaws and rules of procedure “as presented,” and adopted the commission’s 2025–26 regular meeting calendar (third Thursdays at 6:00 p.m., with the June meeting tentatively moved because the usual date is a holiday).

Key changes Ms. Spaulding highlighted include: - Universal use of the title clerk for the position that has sometimes been called secretary; the change “runs with the position.” - Reordering the agenda so administrative items (invocation/pledge, approval of minutes, director announcements) come before the citizen comment period, followed by unfinished business and then new business and public hearings; the commission retains the ability to change order of the agenda by motion at a meeting. - Rules for remote/electronic participation aligned to the updated Code of Virginia: members may participate remotely for (1) their own temporary or permanent disability, (2) to provide care for a family member with a disability, or (3) as a caregiver for a person with a disability; up to two remote participants may count toward quorum depending on the reason recorded. Ms. Spaulding noted the minutes must record that a member is participating remotely and give a general location (for FOIA purposes) but need not record the medical condition. - Citizen comment rules: two distinct comment opportunities (open citizen comment period and comment during public hearings); three-minute speaking limit, ceding of time rules (ceded time adds two minutes per ceding person up to a 10-minute maximum), and a requirement that electronic presentation materials be submitted to the Planning Commission clerk by noon the day before the meeting to be displayed.

Commissioners conducted roll-call votes for each motion. All recorded votes on the items discussed at the April 17 meeting were recorded as “Aye” in the transcript; no recorded “No,” “Abstain,” or recusals were announced.

The adopted bylaws take effect at the commission’s next meeting unless the commission votes to return a redlined draft for additional changes.

Votes at a glance - Election of Chair — Motion to elect Dwayne Cosby as chair: moved and seconded; roll-call recorded as Aye (Mr. McLaughlin; Mr. Cosby; Mr. Pettit; Ms. Kowalski; Mr. Kimmerle). Outcome: approved. - Election of Vice Chair — Motion to elect Amanda Kowalski as vice chair for a one-year term: moved and seconded; roll-call recorded as Aye. Outcome: approved. - Approval of Minutes — Motion to approve the March 2025 regular-meeting minutes: moved and seconded; roll-call recorded as Aye. Outcome: approved. - Adoption of Bylaws — Motion: “Commission adopt the Planning Commission bylaws and rules of procedure as presented.” Mover and seconder recorded in the meeting; roll-call recorded as Aye (see provenance). Outcome: approved. - Adoption of 2025–26 Meeting Calendar — Motion: “I move that the commission adopt the resolution establishing the Planning Commission's 2025–2026 meeting schedule as presented.” Mover and seconder recorded in the meeting; roll-call recorded as Aye. Outcome: approved.

Ending The commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled for May 15, 2025; the commission’s packet and the adopted bylaws will appear on the county website and staff indicated any desired changes can be returned as a redline for future consideration.